Tall ship lives to sail on

A tall ship that was a regular site in Port Nelson has found a new owner and a new goal as it plans to set sail for Australia.

Alvei, a tall ship built in 1920, became intimately acquainted with Port Nelson after its former owner Evan Logan crashed into Old Main Wharf in 2016.

Evan, who made Nelson his home for many years, had his last adventure with Alvei in 2018 when he died in hospital in Suva, Fiji from pneumonia.

US-born Logan was known for his aid work around the Pacific, and he was a regular visitor to this part of the country.

Evan’s friend and fellow local boat enthusiast Jeffrey Shallcrass recently linked back up with the ship in Russell, in the Bay of Islands.

He met up with Alvei’s new owner Geoffrey Jones who plans to continue the ship’s adventures by sailing it to Australia.

But Covid restrictions and a constant battle to keep the ship in good condition have delayed the US-based owner.

He is running the boat as a non profit where he invites anyone to help sail the the boat and keep its travels going.

“Geoffrey was fortunate enough to take ownership of Alvei in Fiji after the previous owner Evan, who gave a lifetime of love and work to keep Alvei travelling the world,” Jeffrey says.

“Evan, I am sure, will be pleased that the new owner plans to continue Alvei’s journeys with many different crews also enjoying Alvei’s adventures.”

Jeffrey says he hopes to join Alvei for a leg of that eventual journey, and be part of the ongoing adventures.